Back pack tool box



United States Patent 72] Inventor Ray 11. Wilson Near the city of Cusick, Wash. [211 App]. No. 771,860 [22] Filed Oct. 30, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 22, 1970 [73] Assignee Aluminum Box Company Cusick, Wash. a corporation of Washington. by direct and mesne assignments [54] BACK PACK TOOL BOX 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 224/8, 206/ 16; 190/58; 224/5 [51] Int. Cl A451 5/00 [50] Field ofSearch 224/8, 8.1, g, 5, 5.2, 26, 26.1; 206/16; 190/57, 58; 150/34 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,264 5/1912 l-lokanson 206/16 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forienza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner Attorney-Keith S. Bergman ABSTRACT: A rigid tool box, to contain a plurality of small mechanic 5 tools, with external strap means to aid the carrying of the box supported only by a workmans shoulders. The carrying straps are releasable and may be variously positioned to provide for different carrying attitudes at the workmans side or on his back.

PATENTED DECZZIHYB 35491064 sum 1 BF 2 v -HGURE// Roy H. Wilson, INVENTUR.

AT TORNE Y.

pmEmEunmzmm 3.5491064 SHEET 2 [1F 2 FIGURE 3 Roy Hv Wilson, INYENTOR.

Fl/GURE 4 ATTORNEY BACK PACK TOOL BOX BACKGROUND or INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates generally to'tool boxes and more particularly to a shoulder supported tool box not requiring manual support by a workman during transport.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many mechanics tools are of a small and delicate nature such as to make their containment durin'g periods of nonuse and for transport most desirable. Rigid tool boxes to serve this purpose have heretofore become well known, probably in times immemorial, very nearly contemporaneous with the advent of such tools.

The common tool box of the prior art has provided a rigid container adapted primarily to contain and protect tools, usually with some type of a handle adapted particularly for manual manipulation. The primary purposes of such devices has been directed toward tool protection and containment rather than manipulation or transport of the tool box.

In many work areas where mechanics have need of tools there is somedifficulty of tool box transportation, such as in heavy construction work on large buildings, darn work, bridge work and the'like. In such instances oftentimes a workman must climb ladders, ride rigging, or otherwise transport himself through areas sufficiently difficult of access that they require the complete use of his hands and feet. In these instances a tool box of normal design providing for manual transport and manipulation is not particularly usable as the workman must use his hands and feet in the transport operation and thus of necessity does not have them available for use with the tool box.

The instant invention seeks to solve this problem by providing a tool box of an improved design that may be supported upon the-workman's shoulder for transport without use'or encumberance of the workmans hands. Both tool boxes and shoulder supported packs have become well known in the prior art, but the instant invention is not a backpack in the sense that the container is rigid and specifically adapted for containment and protection of tools and it is not a traditional tool box in that it provides support by straps from the shoulders of a user rather than by manual manipulation during transport. The instant invention further provides a tool box design that contains and protects the tools but yet gives unobstructed display of them and access to them with utmost utility. The instant invention may further be simply modified to provide for manipulation and transport in the habitually familiar fashion and may be stored during periods of nonuse by suspension from its supporting strap.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION My invention provides a rigid tool box, for containment and transportation of small mechanics tools, that is supported by straps upon a users shoulders to leave his hands free and unencumbered during transport of the box.

To accomplish this function 1 provide a rigid substantially rectilinear container formed of two hingeably communicating, openable halves releasably fastenable to each other in a closed position. Fastening means are provided about the internal periphery of the to releasably maintain a plurality of small tools or similar items thereabout to provide clear display and access thereto when the box be opened. The embodiment disclosed is specifically adapted for containment of the common tools of the carpenter.

Plural carrying strap brackets are provided on the external surface of the box on one side to .position two opposed parallel straps to allow the box to be carried on the back with the straps over the shoulders and on a side edge to allow positioning of one strap to permit the box to be carried at the side of the user with the strap over one shoulder. The straps are releasably fastenable to strap holding brackets carried by the box to allow interchange. A traditional handle for manual manipulation may be added if desired.

In providing such a device it is:

A principal object of my invention to create a rigid tool box for small mechanics tools that has at least one shoulder strap to support the box during transport upon a users shoulders and leave his hands free.

A further object to provide such a box that may have two cooperating straps to support thebox over both shoulders and on the users back or one strap to support the box over one shoulder and at the users side. 4

A still further object of my invention to provide such a tool box that is of a design to give clear display of and access to a plurality of small tools carried therein.

A still further object of my invention to provide such a box that may be supported by a user in a well balanced position to allow bodily transport in an habitually familiar fashion substantially as if the user were not carrying a tool box.

A still further object of my invention to provide such a tool box that is of new and novel design, of rugged and durable nature, of simple and economic manufacture, and otherwise well adapted to the uses and purposes for which it is intended.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings which form a part of this application. In carrying out the objects of my invention, however, it is to be understood that its essential features are susceptible of change in design, structure and arrangement with only one preferred and practical embodiment being illustrated in the accompanying drawings as required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application and wherein like numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is an orthographic front-view of my tool box in open position, showing particularly the containment and display of tools therein.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the exterior of my tool box in closed position.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of my tool box closed, with one shoulder strap attached for carrying at a user's side or hanging for storage.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of my tool box closed with paired cooperating back straps attached for carrying the pack on a users back.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged isometric view of a strap bracket and a partial view of .the strap end showing its method of releasable attachment thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in more detail it will there be seen that my invention generally comprises, casement 6 with tool fastening means 7 about the interior surface, strap fastening means 8 on the exterior surface and strap carrying means 9 communicating therewith.

The casement comprises similar'opposed planar sides 10 structurally communicating by similar opposed end edges 11 and side edges 12. The casement is cut into two similar halves through the medial portion of the end and side edges 11, 12 as indicated, with each half pivotably joined by hinges 13 and releasably fastenable in closed position by hasp 14 carried by the side edge opposite that carrying the hinges. I prefer this structure from a rigid material such as wood or metal. This structure is reasonably common in tool boxes heretofore known though I do prefer the relatively thin elongate rectangular shape illustrated rather than other traditional pyramidal shaped heretofore used because this particular shape gives greater balance and provides more clear display and access to the various tools carried within the casement.

Tool fastening means 7 comprises a plurality of bandlike fastening elements 15 structurally carried by the interior surface of sides 10 by screws 16, or similar fasteners, extending through the fastening elements and into engagement with the casement sides. The fastening elements are in some instances preferably elastic and in others rigid, but all as heretofore known. It is to be noted that -the various tools contained are displayed in substantiallya 'single'layer over a relatively great area, larger than could' be used other shapes of boxes. The particular array of tools illustrated in FIG. 1 is apreferential array for acarpenter, but obviously'the box might be adapted to differenttools'for the carpenter and to tools more common to other mechanical arts without changingits spirit or scope.

Strapfasteningmeans 8 -comprise strap brackets, each having similanpaired opposed feet 17 structurally communicating by a U shaped,-rodlike body 18 to form a structurally joined unit. Plural holes 19 are'provided in feet 17 to accommodate fasteners 20, in this instance screws, to position each strap bracket upon the exterior-of casement 6. Preferably two strap brackets '80, "Share positionedinopposed fashion at spaced distance on one of the side edges, preferably that carrying hasp 14, to support a single strap; four additionalfasteners 8c,

- 8d, 8e, 8] are positioned near the respective comers of one side 10, in the square'arrayedfashion shown particularly in H6. 3, to'allow positioning of paired opposed shoulder straps as illustrated in'FlG. 4.

These straps should be of a length sufficient to extend between opposed cooperatingfastening'brackets with sufficient excess to pass about the shoulder structure of a user, and of a width to allow comfortable bodily suppon. The strap length may be made adjustable by'placing plural fasteners in spaced array along the straps. At least 'two such straps from some strong flexiblematerial such as leather areprovided with each tool box.

Having thusly described the'structure of my invention, its operation may now be understood.

A tool box is formedaccording to the foregoing specification and the various tools desired to be contained are appropriately positioned therein. To transport the-box a single strap maybe positioned between the two strap fasteners 8a,8b on side'edge 12 as indicated-in FIG B'Z'This allows thebox to be carried over one shoulder with one side of the box against the user's body and the elongate-dimension extending parallel to the users course of travel.

If it be "desired-tocarry the box on the users back, two straps are positioned between opposed cooperating strap fasteners 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f on-side as illustrated in FIG. 4; With straps in this position, the box may be positioned over both shoulders of the user with side 10 resting upon or against the back oflthe user.

' It isto be particularly noted that'in either method of carrying described, the box 'may be reasonably symmetrically disposed relative to the users body and will not create any particular off=balance that would interfere with normal body motions. It is similarly tobe-noted that the tool box will be completely supported'by the user's shoulders and that his hands will be oomplete ly free to be used in aiding his motion -or'other activities.

It is further to be noted that the strap, particularly if positioned as illustrated in FIG. 3, might be used to support the tool box-upon .acpeg'or' similar structure during periods of nonuseand storage. 1

The foregoing description of my invention is necessarily of a detailed nature so'that a specific embodiment of it might be set'forth, as required, but it is to be understood that various modifications of detail, rearrangement and'multiplication of parts may be resorted to without departing from its spirit, essence or scope.

[claim 1. in a shoulder supported tool box of the nature aforesaid,

ing'ohamber formed of-two halves {oining on a lane medially-between andparallel with he opposed arger sides,'the two halves being hingeably joined along one edge-and havinghasp means along the opposite edge to releasably maintain closure of the structure;

tool fastening. means carried at least upon the inner surface of the larger sides of the casement comprising plural fastening elementsadapted to releasably hold a plurality of small tools to display them for ready access;

a-plurality of strap fastening means carried by the exterior surface of the container, each comprising paired opposed feet having means of fastening to the container with a U- shaped, rodlike body extending therebetween adapted to fasten the end portion of a strap, such strap fastening means being disposed at leastin an opposed pair on the exterior of the tool box; and

paired opposed straps carried by four square arrayed strap fastening means positioned on the exterior surface of a largerside-of the casement to provide two substantially parallel, spaced, looped straps to fit about the shoulders of a user to maintain the tool box upon the users back. 

